There was a time when women served in very limited capacities in the nation’s military. Over the years, the role of women in the military has expanded and changed, resulting in more women joining the service and as a result, more female veterans.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, women account for more than 14 percent of active-duty military personnel, some 214,000 women in uniform. The statistics also show that there are 1.8 million female veterans. Male or female, American Legion members have strived to be there for their fellow veterans.

Here in Camp Verde at the David C. Johnson American Legion Post No. 93, members recently elected the post’s first female commander. Marjorie Fela took over the leadership position this summer.

They also appointed the youngest person to a leadership position, Brian Tarbox, a Navy veteran and former hospital corpsman who currently serves as the post’s finance officer.

Other officers elected include Jim Dickinson as first vice commander, Tom Dimock as second vice commander, Skip Baker as adjutant, Gerry Munn as chaplain and Ron Embly as the post’s judge advocate general.

For the full story, see the Wednesday, Sept. 19, edition of The Camp Verde Journal.